The ridge scaled rattail or ridge-scaled grenadier, ''Macrourus carinatus'', is a species of deep-water fish in the family Macrouridae. It has southern circumglobal distribution in temperate to subantarctic waters (34°S–65°S) and is found in the Southern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and in the Southern Ocean at depths of about .

Description and life history

''Macrourus carinatus'' can reach in total length and about in pre-anal length. The eyes are relatively large. The snout is short and moderately pointed. Coloration is medium brown to somewhat straw color, with darker, sometimes even blackish fins. In the waters of the Falkland Islands, females reach 50% maturity at pre-anal length and 14 years of age. Males reach 50% maturity at pre-anal length and 12 years of age. Spawning occurs throughout the year but peaks during the austral autumn (April–July). Females also have a larger asymptotic pre-anal length than males, , respectively. Maximum recorded age is 53 years.

Fisheries

''Macrourus carinatus'' is a commercial fishery species. Targeted fishery along the Patagonian continental slope reached a peak of 50,000 tonnes in 1988 but declined precipitously thereafter. At present, it is treated as a by-catch species that is not allowed to exceed 10% of daily catches in weight.

References

* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'', (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) {{Taxonbar, from=Q2426856 Macrouridae Fish of the Atlantic Ocean Fish of the Indian Ocean Fish of the Pacific Ocean Fish of the Southern Ocean Taxa named by Albert Günther Fish described in 1878